Tag: Japan

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I’m glad and thankful that this trip pushed through despite my friend and I’s hesitation around 2 weeks prior this trip. I came back inspired and more hopeful for my own country, which is also timely because we have newly elected government officials.

Here are some things that amazed me during our trip:

Their transport system is so efficient. There’s no fear in getting lost because for sure, you’ll be able to find your way back because all train lines are connected at some point.

A friend who worked in Japan before said that the Japanese are hard workers. I have witnessed that personally. They do their work with pride, passion and ensuring that they deliver with quality. Even with the train cleaners, I did not sense any feeling of “ay train cleaner lang ako”.

They are disciplined. Imagine Shibuya crossing. It’s a big intersection but there are no overpasses because everyone just follow the traffic rules. I only saw overpasses in highways. They alight and board only at bus stops. The buses stop only at bus stops. There are seats designated for elders and no one seats there unless s/he’s an elder. One time we did not notice the signage and an elder was strangely looking at us. We realized maybe it was because we were seated at their allotted seat! We stood up right away just to be sure hehe. Buti na lang malapit na kami sa bus stop. Sana ganito rin sa Pinas.

They take advantage of technology for efficiency.

Their attention to the tiniest detail is impressive. Signage in every possible place, baskets where you can place your bags in restaurants, plate especially designed for buffet where it is compartmentalized into small bowls so that food won’t mix up, and the list goes on and on and on.

Their toilets with all those buttons! I want one of those for my own toilet! Heated seat please!

Their parks are really huge and well maintained. Summer na don but all plants are vibrant green pa rin!

I would still like to go back to Japan and experience the other seasons naman. If maganda ngayong summer, I’m sure mas maganda pa sa ibang seasons.

This ends my Japan series of stories. Hope to have another series about Japan in the coming years or even decades if that’s how long it will take me to save up for another Japan trip hehe.

Thank you, Father God, especially for your generous provisions for this trip. I am forever grateful.

Our last day was all about finding enough energy to pull our luggage in all the train stations to get to the airport hehehe. Our flight was still at 12:50 PM but we left for the airport early, just to be sure. And good thing we did. My friend needed to refund the remaining load of her ICOA card and the line was long. She was done after about 40 minutes. That left us with just enough time to check in, and drop by Duty Free.

I had no choice but to buy goodies at Duty Free. Nag-inarte kasi ako when I had the chance hahaha. You see, while we were in Tokyo, we went to a store that sells cheaper green tea kitkat. But since we will still be going to Kyoto, then Osaka, and I didn’t want to add weight to my luggage just yet, I decided to just buy in Osaka. Unfortunately, I can’t find anything na in Osaka, or at least at the places we went to. So ayun, napamahal ako sa Duty Free. As in a very expensive lesson hehehe. But it’s ok as I was able to buy Royce for a cheaper price than in Manila! Masadong mahal yung nandito, about twice the price siguro. Kaloka di ba?

Di ba that week, there was a typhoon in Pinas. Medyo may turbulence when we were in the air na. But it was just mild naman.

Our flight landed in Terminal 1. The most that I dislike every time I’m at our Manila airports are the over expensive taxi services! Langya lang kasi talaga eh. So prior our flight to Japan, I asked one Uber driver if they are already allowed in the airports. Yes, they are. So I just booked for Uber para less hassle and headache.

*** Text was written at the airport while waiting for our flight back to Manila. ***

Day 6: July 9, 2016

Our target return date was July 9 but there were no cheap flights when we were booking. What we got as return flight was July 10 via Jetstar.

And so, we had to transfer to A La Maison for our last night. This is a guest house na. We got a room with the typical Japanese toilet bowl and common shower. I think it was expensive though. We paid Y6,990.00 for just 1 night. The hotels we’ve booked in advance had almost the same rate. So better to book as early as you can for hotels din so that it would be cheaper.

Anyway, since it was still early for check in, we just dropped our luggage at the guesthouse and went out again to visit Osaka Castle. That was walking distance from the guesthouse according to the staff. Totoo naman din. Isang mahabang lakaran. I don’t mind walking naman. Kaso I can’t over walk din dahil takot akong magka-plantar fasciitis uli. I have a history of that because of too much walking. Pero since kailangan, go lang ng go. Last day of gala na. Kailangan sulitin. So picture picture lang uli. There’s an entrance fee if you want to go near the castle. Pass na kami. Ok na kami sa view from below hehe. Nag takoyaki na lang uli kami. Good thing we did because it was another long walk to the JR train station that will bring us to Osaka loop. Target namin always ang JR train para libre since we had our JR pass. Mahal din kasi if magbabayad lagi kada sakay ng train.

From the castle, we went to Osaka Loop for late lunch. We tried one of the buffet restaurants. I had cheese cake to my heart’s content hehehe. Bahala na kung kumulo ang tyan. Buti na lang hindi naman hehehehe.

After lunch, we wanted to check out the Umeda Sky Building. But after learning that we still need to walk a considerable distance, we just checked it out from afar. Hehe. Mga tamad at pagod na kasi.

There was nothing more to do so we decided to go back to the guesthouse so that we can pack and rest early…or so we thought…

We asked a couple at the train if that passess by Morinomiya. He said yes, but also said that it would be much faster if we take the train in the other platform (or at least that’s what we understood)…and so we did. We are supposed to reach our destination after about 2 stops. However, after several stops, no Morinomiya. We are not also familiar with the train stops we passed by so far. So we thought, ok, we’ll just have a joyride. Anyway, the train will go back. So joyride it is. My friend slept, I watched the places we passed by. We were going away from the city. After about 45 minutes, my friend woke up.

Friend: San na tayo?
Me: Lucena na.

Hehehehe.

After 15 more minutes, I thought I heard the train operator announced that the train will be uncoupling and one goes to Kansai airport and the other goes straight to another destination. All bound for Kansai airport should be in cars 1-4. We were at car 7. I told my friend let’s just transfer to car 4. If we were lost, at least dapat sa airport man lang kami makakarating di ba? Hehehe. However, the door to the car 6 was already locked. Patay. Medyo panic na. Good thing a staff saw us. We got out of the train and he showed us how we would be able to get back to our destination.

*** Text was written at the airport while waiting for our flight back to Manila. ***

Day 5: July 8, 2016

We spent all our free time at USJ! Specifically, we spent it at the Harry Potter attraction. My friend is an HP fan so we stayed there the longest. Tiniis naming pumila for more than 2 hours para lang mapasok yung castle and ma-experience yung 4D ride. Sulit naman kahit saglit lang. May tinitinda ring magical wand. My friend bought one and there were 6 activities where you can experience magic with the use of the wand you bought. Enjoy.

We had late lunch inside the HP attraction too. May touching experience kami dito. We paid our orders and we didn’t realize that the cashier punched 2 for 1 of the meals. We only learned about it when the servers served the food. We asked if they can cancel it and if we can get a refund. They allowed it and they were even the ones who went to the cashier for our refund. They were apologetic about it to think that it was our mistake since we did not double check before we paid. Customer service at its finest.

We also tried the Spider-Man ride. 3D lang sya hehe.

It was past 7 PM when we left USJ. We dropped by the mall next to USJ and ate takoyaki. Yun na rin dinner namin.